As it is commonly heard that they have got a Frozen Shoulder or Adhesive Capsulitis but what exactly it is is really an important aspect to rectify that are you really suffering from it or there are various similar conditions that is troubling you.

  • Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, occurs when ligaments around the shoulder joint swell and become stiff.
  • The inflammation of this tissue can make normal healing hard and result in your shoulder being so stiff that everyday activities can be troublesome, such as buttoning your shirt.
  • Frozen shoulder can be very painful for sufferers, which is normally followed by increasing stiffness after around nine months. Symptoms can get worse over a number of months and years and greatly affect movement.
  • Patients with frozen shoulder can ease their symptoms, but this can sometimes take several years.

Connection with Diabetes

People with diabetes are up to twice as likely to suffer from frozen shoulder. This is due to effects on collagen in the shoulder, which holds the bones together in a joint.

Collagen can become sticky if sugar molecules become attached, resulting in movement being restricted and the shoulder beginning to stiffen. This process is known as glycosylation.

Poorly controlled diabetes has long been linked to muscular and skeletal problems, with consistently high blood sugars likely to increase the risk of complications such as frozen shoulder.

Symptoms typically affect patients across three different stages:

Stage one: Freezing (lasts between six weeks to nine months) -The shoulder will become very painful and can result in range of motion being lost 

Stage two: Frozen (lasts between four to 12 months) - The Pain may ease, but your shoulder could become increasingly stiff

Stage three: Thawing (lasts between six months to many years) - The ability to move your shoulder will improve and you may be able to resume doing more everyday tasks. 

Physiotherapy Treatment:

Physical therapy will help restore your movement, increase your range of motion, and reduce inflammation and pain. A physiotherapy expert will create a treatment plan for you comprising of range-of-motion exercises, strengthening exercises, ice therapy, electric stimulation, ultrasound, and straightening workouts. 

The basic aim of exercises are:

  • To reduce pain.
  • To increase extensibility of the thickened and contracted capsule of the joint at the anteroinferior border and at the attachment of the capsule to the anatomical neck of humerus.
  • To improve mobility of the shoulder.
  • To improve strength of the muscle. However it may be remembered that strengthening of muscle is secondary to mobilization.

Goals:

Pain Control 

  • Therapeutic modalities 
  • Ice, ultrasound, Laser Therapy
  • Apply moist heat before therapy and ice pack at the end of session.

Muscle strengthening 

  • Start with rotator cuff strengthening exercises 3 times per week, 8-12 repetitions for three sets.
  • Closed chain isometric strengthening with the elbow flexed to 90 degrees and the arm at the side. Perform internal rotation, external rotation, abduction and forward flexion.
  • Progress to open chain strengthening exercises with theraband for same group of muscles.
  • Progress to light weight dumbbell exercises for internal rotators, external rotators, abductors and forward flexors.
  • Perform strengthening of scapular stabilizers.
  • Deltoid strengthening 
  • Passive Mobilization Technique

As all these Protocols are being followed by us for you to decrease pain and achieve the desired range of shoulder, get a treatment by booking your appointment at 9810559086.